Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALGYQAN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGYQAN’, particularly characterized by having small, light purple flowers with dark purple spots and a dark red-purple lip, with the intensity and number of spots dependent on the temperature, 1 to 3 peduncles that are medium long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALGYQAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALGYQAN’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous attractive and unique small, light purple flowers with darkpurple spots and a dark red-purple lip, suitable for potted plantproduction.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALGYQAN’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in August 2009 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of theproprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘10692-03’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-2078’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in July 2012. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2014 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 24, 2017. ‘PHALGYQAN’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effectivefiling date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALGYQAN’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Small, light purple flowers with dark purple spots and a dark        red-purple lip, with the intensity and number of spots dependent        on the temperature;    -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is medium long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in September 2017. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALGYQAN’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALGYQAN’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALGYQAN’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALGYQAN’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in September 2017on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALGYQAN’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘10692-03’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2078’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)            with branching lateral roots having red-purple colored root            tips (RHS N79B).-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 34.0 cm to 39.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 26.0 cm to 28.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 13.5 cm            to 15.5 cm. Width: 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 25 degrees and 35 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS            146B. Texture: Rough upper and lower surface. Thickness: 2.6            mm to 2.7 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the            midvein: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—16 to 23.        -   Length.—34.0 cm to 39.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.0 mm to 4.4 mm.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200C) and green (RHS 146B).        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 150.0 mm to            190.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 43.0 mm to 48.0 mm. Diameter: 50.0 mm to            55.0 mm. Depth of lip: 15.0 mm to 18.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 12 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 15.0 mm to            17.0 mm. Width: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.            Color: Red-purple (RHS N77B) and slightly green (RHS 145C)            at the base.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Obtuse asymmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to            tip): 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Color            (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS            N78A). Over color: Very small white edge (RHS N155B); very            light purple center (RHS 76B); dark red-purple dots (RHS            N79C). Lower surface: Basic color: Very light purple (RHS            76B). Over color: Purple-pink edge (RHS N78C); at the base            toward the margin white (RHS NN155C) and dark red-purple            (RHS N79B).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to slightly            emarginated. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 24.0            mm to 26.0 mm. Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78B). Over            color: Very small white edge (RHS N155B); dark red-purple            dots (RHS N79B/C). Lower surface: Basic color: Light purple            (RHS 76A). Over color: Purple-pink at the base and the tip            (RHS N78C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 24.0 mm to            26.0 mm. Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78B). Over            color: Very small white edge (RHS N155B); light green at the            base (RHS 157C) and dark red-purple spots (RHS N79B/C).            Lower surface: Basic color: Very light purple (RHS 76B/C).            Over color: Diluting dark red-purple spots (RHS N79B) and            purple-pink stripe (RHS N78C) toward the tip.        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 4.0            mm to 6.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Purple (RHS N78A) with            white tips (RHS NN155C). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly            spatulate. Margin: Entire. Length: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm.            Width: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C) and            slightly yellow (RHS 3A) at the base with few dark red            stripes (RHS 187A); red (RHS 59A) and purple (RHS N78A) at            the margin.        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Length: 17.0 mm            to 19.0 mm. Width: 14.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Color: Slightly            yellow (RHS 12A) at the base; dark red (RHS 59A/B) and            purple (RHS N78A) toward whiskers.        -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm.            Length: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:            Dark red (RHS 187A) and white (RHS NN155C) on sides.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 4.0 mm to            4.3 mm. Color: Purple (RHS N78B).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. Color:            Orange (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Length: 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm to 1.7 mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 26.0 mm to 29.0 mm. Diameter: 1.7 mm to            1.9 mm. Color: Purple (RHS 77B) at the base; very light            purple (RHS 76D) toward the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis to date.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALGYQAN’ differs from female parent plant ‘10692-03’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALGYQAN’ has a dark red callus and purple whiskers with whitetips, whereas ‘10692-03’ has a yellow, dotted callus and white whiskers.Additionally, ‘PHALGYQAN’ has a spotted and small center flower patternand a spotted sepal pattern, whereas ‘10692-03’ has edged flower andsepal patterns.

‘PHALGYQAN’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-2078’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALGYQAN’ has a spotted and small center flower pattern and aspotted sepal pattern, whereas ‘01-2078’ has a flecked flower patternand a more even sepal pattern.

‘PHALGYQAN’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALFEQBIN’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,615) and ‘PHALFASWI’ (unpatented).‘PHALGYQAN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFEQBIN’ in that‘PHALGYQAN’ has a spotted and small center flower pattern and a dark redcallus with white on the sides, whereas ‘PHALFEQBIN’ has a spotted andcenter flower pattern and a dark red callus with yellow tips and whiteon the sides. Additionally, ‘PHALGYQAN’ has smaller flowers, shorterwhiskers, narrower lateral lobes and wider leaves than ‘PHALFEQBIN’.

‘PHALGYQAN’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFASWI’ in that‘PHALGYQAN’ has a spotted and small center flower pattern and a dark redcallus with white on the sides, whereas ‘PHALFASWI’ has a spotted andedged flower pattern and a dark red callus with yellow on the sides.Additionally, ‘PHALGYQAN’ has longer whiskers and narrower lateral lobesthan ‘PHALFASWI’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALGYQAN’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.